Les and Jenny Dovaston have so many reasons to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.
By Kath Gannaway
LES and Jenny Dovaston had always intended to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in their new restaurant at Marysville Trout Farm.
That they did, surrounded by more than 150 family and friends on Saturday 28 August, is miraculous in so many ways.
Sixteen of the 18 buildings on the property, including their home, were destroyed on Black Saturday.
Only 500 of their 190,000 fish survived. Their “million dollar views”, the big selling point of their vision to set up backpacker and farm-stay accommodation, along with the café, were destroyed.
Ten years of moving buildings, de-nailing, renovating, and collecting everything needed to open their café from crockery and cutlery to tables, chairs, and the coffee machine, reduced to ash.
They survived the fire by plunging into the pond, just a few feet from where the construction of their new café had just begun.
Jenny and Les refused to let go of the dream and with help from family, friends and community, they beamed with joy, and wiped away a few tears, as they looked back on 50 years of marriage and 18 months of both heartache and joy.
Les said for the couple who met when Jenny was 15 and he was a year older, their experience on Black Saturday and the journey since made celebrating their anniversary all the more important. Jenny read a message about life and love which was inscribed on a ceramic bowl for the people of Marysville and she took the opportunity to thank all the people, old and new, who are part of their lives.
The event was very much a celebration of their enduring love and of hope for the future.
Les said they plan to have the restaurant open by Christmas … and look forward to the next big anniversary.
